Find out how popular the first name Vitaly has been for the last 33 years (from 1991 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Vitaly by gender

Based on the last 33 years of data, Vitaly is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Vitaly.

The history of the first name Vitaly

The name Vitaly has its roots in the ancient Roman name Vitalius, which was derived from the Latin word "vitalis," meaning "life" or "lively." The name gained prominence during the Roman Empire and was particularly popular among early Christians, who often chose names with meanings related to life, faith, or virtue.

In the 4th century AD, the name Vitalius was borne by several early Christian saints and martyrs, including Saint Vitalius of Milan and Saint Vitalius of Ravenna. These early associations with Christian figures likely contributed to the name's widespread adoption across Europe in the following centuries.

The name Vitaly emerged as a Slavic variant of the Latin Vitalius, particularly in Russia and other Slavic-speaking regions. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Vitaly can be found in the 12th-century Russian chronicle "The Tale of Igor's Campaign," which mentions a warrior named Vitaly.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have been named Vitaly, including:

1. Vitaly of Alexandria (5th century AD), a Christian monk and hermit who is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
2. Vitaly of Gaza (6th century AD), a Christian monk and ascetic who is also venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
3. Vitaly Grigoryevich Mukhanov (1776-1854), a Russian writer and translator who is best known for his translations of works by Shakespeare and Molière.
4. Vitaly Petrovich Yakunchikov (1796-1857), a Russian painter and portraitist who is considered one of the founders of the Russian academic school of painting.
5. Vitaly Bialynicki-Birula (1934-2020), a Polish-born American mathematician and theoretical physicist who made significant contributions to the fields of quantum mechanics and relativity.

Throughout its history, the name Vitaly has maintained its association with life, energy, and vigor, reflecting its Latin roots. While its popularity has varied across different cultures and time periods, it has endured as a name with a rich historical legacy and enduring cultural significance.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Vitaly was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Vitaly, please contact us.

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